Upon seeking for Native American stereotype images. I realized that about every image I found online. I had already seen. This. was interesting to me because it shows how to the full assimilated Native American stereotypes are into our civilization and into the manner I was raised as an all American white female. Of the three images that I found. two of them were used for advertisement mascots and the other was used as a Disney character that portrayed an Americanized version of an “Indian princess” .

These images are proof that our society has used stereotypes of Native American people for their ain benefit by making “picture perfect” narratives of the Native American and “the white man’s” relationship every bit good as utilizing the stereotypes as successful merchandise mascots. As I mentioned supra. two of the images I retrieved were used as merchandise mascots. The first of the two is one I have seen many times at the food market shop because it is on a certain trade name of oleo known as the “Land O’ Lakes” butter.

The 2nd image I have seen because many of my household members chew masticating baccy. and a few of them chew this trade name. known as “Red Man” masticating baccy. As I analyzed these two images. I noticed many similarities. Both of these Indians looked really traditionally dressed as each of them wore a caput frocks and both were covered in points that merely an “Indian” would have on. These two stereotypes work good for consumers because they consider Indians to be a portion of the American narrative. and although most Americans are non to the full educated on this narrative as a whole. it still works because of the stereotypes America has created for its society.

As immature kids. my schoolmates and I learned the “Thanksgiving story” and until my junior or senior twelvemonth in high school I was in complete belief that this narrative was of the truth. In this narrative. I learned that the Indians and the Pilgrims were friends and that the narrative went “happily of all time after” . so if I had continued to believe such information. I would simply look at these mascots as friends of the American people and person that the American people helped be assimilated into our society.

In my sentiment. without cognition of the true Native American narrative. this method of advertisement would be good. One of the most effectual signifiers of Native American stereotypes has been through the Disney authoritative “Pocahontas” . As a kid. I can retrieve look up toing Pocahontas and the life she led because she was such a strong and beautiful immature lady. Although Pocahontas is non accurate harmonizing to history. I feel as though Disney did a good occupation for the most portion of making a good footing for my beliefs of the Native American life.

Pocahontas is known as a strong adult female. willing to make anything for person she loves. and is connected really strongly to nature. These things. are features that I so generalized with many American indians because Pocahontas was my first solid illustration of what an Indian was. Although Disney did make a all right occupation demoing immature kids some of the admirable traits of an Indian. they did so in about a satirical manner.

If you watch the film as an grownup. you so see that Disney made merriment of the Native American civilization. but as a kid. I did non of all time notice. In the image I found of Pocahontas. I noticed that she is surrounded by animate beings. who seem to be her friends. and she is decked out in traditional Native American garb. As a kid. I believed all Indians dressed like Matoakas and because of that. I believe that American society instantly begins sifting these stereotypes into the heads of kids at a really immature age.

Although I do non believe that all stereotypes that have been created by American society have affected the Native American life negatively. I believe that pigeonholing in general is a bad thing. There is no uncertainty in my head that these stereotyped images have formed a response on Native American life because it has made kids instantly think of “Indians” as about a fabulous animal. versus a human being. Without these stereotypes. we could get down to handle Native people like they were perfectly no different and get down to esteem their civilizations.